Australian Wines

The wine industry in Australia is a significant contributor to the Australian economy in terms of exports and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Australian wine industry is the fourth largest exporter of wine in the world. Our country exports around 750 million litres of this popular alcoholic drink derived from grapes. Back to the Australian economy, wine consumption and sales increased in line with the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) - a boom industry while others were on the decline.

Some Pinot Gris from Adelaide Hills

You could be sitting with a group of foodies enjoying a coffee or a juice somewhere, and then you'll go ahead and ask them "who likes drinking wine here?" - immediately a small handful of hands go up. Wine tasting nights and wine appreciation courses are also frequently booked out. In Australia as of late, many companies are setting up wine clubs. The most popular wine clubs in the country include Qantas epiQure, Cellarmasters, Willunga 100, The Wine Society and Virgin Wines to name.

Red wine is perfect for such feasts

It all makes sense. According to the ABS, each and every Australian consumes (on average) around 30 litres of wine a year. The ABS also purport that Australian's consume more white wine than red wine of the 530 million litres of wine that Australia as a whole consumes on an annual basis. Only a small percentage of our wine is imported.

Per capita, Aussies love their wine.

Some well known Australian wine locations include the Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. Many Australians dub Adelaide as the wine capital of Australia, however some great wineries are established in Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales. Wine tours are also quite popular in Australia.

Sums up wine nicely

Quality wines comprise of about 85% of real grapes. The most popular types of wine Australian's consume are as follows:

Shiraz

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Chardonnay

Riesling

Wine from Willunga 100

The Pinot Noir and the Pinto Gris are also becoming quite popular. Australian based airlines are also taking their wine offerings seriously on domestic business class flights, as well as for all of their international flights. Qantas business class flight attendants are well trained in wine appreciation. Our Qantas airline has won the most awards on their wine selection, as per the Cellar in the Sky Awards. Australians can say cheers to great wine, as we have an abundance of it to enjoy on our shores.

Molecules, yes. We will leave that for another time. Aussies just want to enjoy their wine.